I thought I would take a few minutes to say hello to everyone and introduce myself. You've probably noticed me posting in the past few weeks, mainly either in regards to tax questions or posting a few questions myself.

I am a little bit shy

I am an accountant in Canada so can try my best to help with the Canadian end of things, though most of my experience is with corporate taxation, so most of the time I have to look up the answers to things. I do have access to some good resources though!

I met my sweetie last December playing world of warcraft ... then we spent three months figuring out whether we should meet for real or not ... I have to say it helped realizing he lived only a few hours a way. I live in Victoria and when I met him, Jason was living in Seattle so the first 6 months or so was spent between Victoria and Seattle, now he is in the Bremerton area.

Our first weekend together was amazing and we have spent all but three weekends together since March of 2007. We knew we were going to spend the rest of our lives together after about .. two weeks. We are both in our early 30s so i think that since both of us had experienced various other things throughout our lives, we knew exactly what we were looking for. Jason asked me to marry him in June and then we spent a few months figuring out the best way to proceed. At the time we were under a bit of family pressure for me to accept a job in Bremerton under a TN Visa ... I decided that wasn't right (considering our intentions were most certainly not temporary) so we decided to marry thinking the CR-1 visa was the best option for us.

We filed our I-130 at the end of August 2007 and are awaiting approval. We didn't know at the time that Montreal was the only consulate that deals with immigrant visas.

I feel pretty frustrated that the CR-1 takes SOOO much longer than the K-1, I strugle with my / our choice pretty regulary.

Our family/friends wedding is July 19th!

Well it is indeed a pleasure to meet you. I'm glad you found your true love. I take it that Jason's favourite songs are See Emily Play and For Emily Wherever I May Find Her. Anyone who risks life and limb by writing the UFE is all right in my book. The good news about Montreal is by the time you go for the interview, the snow will have finally melted. Hang in there, the wait will be over before you know it.

Nice to meet you EmilyandJason! Welcome to VJ! Welcome to the Canada Forum! Have I forgotten to welcome you???

I understand your frustration about the length of the process. When it's finally over and you're with your husband....you won't believe how when you look back, it doesn't seem to have taken that long...but saying that, I know that when you're going through it, it seems to never end.

There are a few couples here that met playing World of Warcraft! Gene and I met on-line as well. I'm now in St. Louis, MO, but originally from Saskatchewan.

Hope to see more of your postings and thanks for your response to my tax question!

Welcome to VJ!! I lived in Victoria for nearly 9 yrs, loved the city!! best of luck

WOO HOO!
Another gamer!
Nick and I met on City of Heroes but we fell in love on WoW!
Welcome to VJ hon.
I'm sorry it takes so long, it's heartbreaking I know, but just think of how worth it it all will be when you are finally together.
Best of luck to you and Jason!
Hugs
~Laura

Very nice to meet you and never be afraid to come by VJ and join the discussion. The Canadian forum is one of the most helpful imo, and one of the nicest too! Sometimes some of the general chat can get a little heated

I met my husband playing WoW as well....they (Blizzard) really should start offering a dating service as well! I mean...where else can you meet someone who wants to devote large parts of their lives to keeping the murloc population in check lol

Cheers

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone!

welcome welcome !
we didn't met in wow but were both players too ! hahaha
I was more involved in guildwars before.

what server r u guyz in ?

Tax accounts who play MMPORGS, we salute you!

<---tax accoutant (corporate as well)
<---recently retired from WoW

Welcome aboard the good ship lollipop!

We used to play on Silver Hand though we both are pretty much retired now. I don't have time to raid anymore so I pretty much just level alts when I'm really bored

I'm so glad my wife doesn't play games at all, especially WoW, but allows me to play WoW all the time ha ha. Must be true love when she can laugh at me playing, but doesn't have a problem with it...

Welcome Emily! I am from White Rock and my husband lives in Bellingham. I am so thankful for Nexus!!!!!!! My husband and I met on EHarmony. It was like an instant connect....just like the commercials...lol

We both play wow, even now that we live together.

Speaking of which, my nightelf is level 67... I really want to get to level 70...

Have a great day.

*and welcome to the Canadian forum*

Welcome and thanks for sharing your story

On a side note, are there any Canadians who DON'T play WoW??? I am feeling so left out now LOL

Not to worry, I don't play WoW. There is one online game that I still paly even today, Team Fortress Classic. Its a first-person shooting game based on Half-Life. Its been my favorite since it came out back in April 1999 and I still do play it today.

BTW, welcome to VJ EmilyandJason!

I don't play games. (OK, that sounded incredibly ominous )

"...... playing world of warcraft ... then we spent three months figuring out whether we should meet for real or not ... I have to say it helped realizing he lived only a few hours a way. I live in Victoria "

WOW~~~ That is how Zan and I met and I live in Victoria (off Mackenzie) and Zan lives outside Tacoma (Graham)*breaks into sappy version of "It's a Small World"*

We have been trying to see each other at least every other weekend, but with his scheduale ( he is a Corrections Officer) and mine (Retail Store Manager), things do not always go our way. We have discussed the variables and I think have decided that the K-! is the way to go. We have not yet begun the process yet and probably won't for a few more months , but I think we both have realized what a journey this is going to be for both of us. We have both had spouses who chose Adultery over Monogamy and both have been burned by it...but Zan has had longer to heal. I have never felt this safe and protected by anyone in my entire life as I do with Zan, so there is no fear that this marriage will fail, but I do have family and friends I am dealing with who all think I am RUSHING into things. I know they mean well, but they were not in my marriage. For now I am willing to bide my time and when that day finally arrives, I know all this waiting and distance will be a memory!

Tangie

ps...if you ever need to share the ferry ride give me a shout!!!!

* oh...and we are horde on Bonechewer.. I am a Rogue Troll and Zan...well...Zan has many alter egos!! but I love his Tauren Druid bestest!!!

Haha .. wow it is a small world!

I'm on the boat almost every week so shoot me a pm next time you go if you want some company

I just wanted to drop by and say some few words.

I do not think you should doubt your choice. From what i read across the forums, CR-1 is the way to go! It will be easier to start your life once you arrive here. As opposed to K-1 who have to wait for a work visa, you can just start your life as soon as you step on the American soil.
I really understand your situation.
When i first started dating my husband, we would only see each other once every 3 months. It was tough but do not forget it is all worth it in the end. I think all of the couples on VJ comes out stronger in the end. Not a lot of couple can endure what we are all enduring.
You just have to keep in mind that this is all worth it and there will be an end to this madness and pain.

Good luck to you!

I'm on the boat almost every week so shoot me a pm next time you go if you want some company
[/quote]


have you ever been seriously grilled when going across?? My problem is that my ALL my utilities (hydro, cable internet, even my phone) is included in my rent...and the only bills i have are a cell phone and visa. I am planning on changing jobs in the near future (due to incredible stress) so having a letter from my employer is gonna be extreamely difficult.

So my question is...what proof do i take with me?? I have Rent receipts, Car insurance payments.......and both my kids live in Canada.

Tangie

(someone please respond!!! I am beginning to think i am an Elite ThreadKiller!!)

have you ever been seriously grilled when going across?? My problem is that my ALL my utilities (hydro, cable internet, even my phone) is included in my rent...and the only bills i have are a cell phone and visa. I am planning on changing jobs in the near future (due to incredible stress) so having a letter from my employer is gonna be extreamely difficult.

So my question is...what proof do i take with me?? I have Rent receipts, Car insurance payments.......and both my kids live in Canada.

Tangie

(someone please respond!!! I am beginning to think i am an Elite ThreadKiller!!)
[/quote]


I'm sure your employer can write you a letter. I just asked mine for a letter and explained that sometimes Canadians get asked for "ties" to Canada when they're visiting the US finances so they don't think you're going to abscond to the U.S. She just wrote me out on letterhead, who I was, what my position was, how long I'd worked there, when I was expected back. If you haven't been there long, don't have them write down how long you've been with them. Let me see...what else could you bring. A bank statement? Do you have a car lease or loan? How old are your kids? If they're being looked after by someone in Canada, that would be pretty strong ties to Canada! I think it sounds like you have enough. Someone said on here as well, they brought some copies of the immigration stuff with them, so that they could explain that you're going through the process, so likely wouldn't be intercepting it!

I don't play WoW..come sit next to me!!

Never even see what WOW looks like,lol I normally play sports games, or Call of duty!!

I do play chess online, so I guess that counts as a game (I am such a nerd!!!)

I've never been grilled seriously, though they warn me occasionally that as I get farther in the process the burden of proof will become higher ... whatever that means. I bring my bank statements for the last few months to show my direct deposit pay, rent payments, car payments, utility .. I also bring some recent mail to show my address.

They seem to know me now, as soon as I say where I am going and that I am visiting my husband, they scan my passport and say have a nice weekend.